ys^^-^ 





LIBRARY OF CONGRESS^ 

. ,..,„ ..n. uiii Hill mil mil mil mil III! UMr 




TTtiB 



ANNUAL ADDRESS 



OF THE 



Carrier Boys, 



OF 



t 



(»1 *T* 



AND 



ESSEX COUNTY (DERCURY. 



35c«Tuarg i^ i892^ 



'^^^^'^^^^^^)^^^^^^^^^^^mm 



"^Jlero ^^eav^s S)bbve^^. 



Kind Friends and Patrons: — 

I am the smallest carrier of the dozen of more hoys who leave the 
Gazette at your doors. You know that, for you have been repeatedly 
informed in other years that the smallest carrier is always chosen to 
provide the New Year's address that is to draw the spare chang-e froni 
your pocket-book. But it is a matter of much concern to me, for 
Ihough I have the traditions of countless numbers of my predecessors 
to draw upon, to me the task is new. Many of those old fellows who 
were carriers once have since filled pretty important positions,' and I 
often wonder if thej^ were ever called into the oflSce afternoons and 
lectiu'ed on their carelessness — the same as some of the boys (not me, 
for I'm always cai'eful) are nowadays ; especially when your paper is 
thrown down on the wet walk, or left late when you particularly want- 
ed to see it early, or else wasn't left at all. It seems strange to think 
of those men ever having been taken to task like us little chaps. Why, 
some of them have become leading business and professional men, and 
official dignitaries. 

I said we had many traditions passed down to us by generations of 
carriers. Did you know that 1 leave papers for some people whose 
families have been subscribers to the Gazette for over a hundred years? 
Never thought about it? "Well, it's so ; and if you could hunt through 
their old desks and closets you would find tattered old copies of the 
paper, yellow with age, <hat serve as landmarks in the family and city 
history. A young mother carefully saved a paper containing a men- 
tion of the birth of her first born ; a proud husband took the i)ains to 
preserve a copy with the notice of his marriage ; and the brown spots 
on still another old sheet tell onlj^ too plainly that salt tears dimmed 
the eye and fell there on reading of the decease of some loved one. 

There are other and older papers among them, for the family was 
represented on the seas in old Salem's prosperous mercantile days, and 
the "Ship News" column was scanned with a keener intei'est then 
than it is now. There are papers too of the war — of two wars, — with 
EnglanOn 1812, and the Great Rebellion ; perhaps, even, if you hunt 
carefully, you may find an account of the " Boston Tea Party " just 
before the Revolution, and moi-eor less full accounts of the battles of 
that great struggle. 

But this isn't what I ineant to write, for I find that most of the car- 
riers in previous years have told you what has been happening through 
the yea)-, or else have hired some one else to tell you. Why, some of 
those old carriers' addresses are masterpieces of literature. The fa- 
mous Hawthorne, even, wrote more than one when he was a young 
man of thirty-four or thirty-five years — long before any one dreamed 



T5t4T 

• CjAt 



that Fame Avoukl some day claim him, thougli even then the stamp of 
genius could be plainly seen in his writings. 

I suppose I ought to say a word about the remodelled court house. 
We carriers are a progressive lot and approve ail judicious expendi- 
tures for public improvements. We therefore endorse the changes in 
the court house and its surroundings; we didn't think much of the ad- 
dition that was put on a few years ag-o, which looked like a sixteenth 
century parlor tacked on to the rear of a nineteenth century kitchen, 
but the recent changes bring the whole exterior into harmony. 

Then there are the street railways. What a lot of horsecars and elec- 
tric cars there are travelling in and out of the city in eveiy direction 
from '^Town House Square." And, by the way, isn't that kind of a 
queer name for a city as big and as old as Salem to give at this late day 
to the centre of its business section? I should thinlv that such a name 
would be apt to hinder the Board of Trade in its work of developing 
the city into a metropolis. But I started to say something about the 
sti'eet cars. We boys believe in them, and don't care much who runa 
them ; but we did miss the band concerts at the Willows last summer, 
and hope that now the Naunikeag road has bought up the Essex Elec- 
tric we m^ay hear more harmonious strains from that branch this com- 
ing year. 

The North river and Mill pond we have always with us, and no car- 
rier's address would be complete without a reference to them ; but 
both are dormant in winter and we will not disturb you, dear reader, 
by stirring them up uow. As soon as the warm spring sun rouses 
them from their winter sleep> then again will the men with ideas — 
no two alike — bring forward plans for abating the nuisance. 

But I fear I am not interesting you. So many brilliant writers of 
New Years' addresses have entertained vou in yeai-s past that this 
poor effort of mine must seem dull indeed. The older boys, who have 
been closely watching my progress and giving me a hint here and 
there, are growing anxious. They are thinking of the address Haw- 
thorne wrote; perhaps they are even comparing my Avork with his. 
A good idea! I will not attempt to finish my address ; but will give 
you ijistead the address that Hawthorne wrote fifty-three years ago. 
The allusions in it to afftiirs of that day will be appreciated by the old 
people, and his literaiy genius will interest those of later birth. It is 
entitled 

THE SISTER YEARS. 

Last night, between eleven and twelve o'clock, when the Old Year 
was leaving her final footprints on the borders of Time's empire, she 
found herself in possession of a few spare moments, and sat down — 
of all places in the world — on the steps of our new City Hall. The 
wintry moonlight showed that she looked weary of l)ody, and sad of 
heart," like many another wayfarer of earth. Her garments having 
been exposed to much foul weather and rougli usage, were in very ill 
condition ; and as the hurry of her journey had never before allowed 



4 

her to take an instant's I'cst, her shoes were so worn as to be scarcely 
worth the mendinof. But, after trudging- only a little distance further, 
this poor Old Year was destined to enjoy a long-, long- slee]). I forgot 
to mention, that when she seated herself on the stei)s, she deposited 
by her side a very capacious band-box, in which, as is the custom 
among travellers of her sex, she carried a great deal of valuable prop- 
erty. Besides this luggage, there was a folio book under her arm, very 
much resembling the annual volume of a newspaper. Placing this 
volume across her knees, and resting her elbows upon it, wiili her 
forehead in her hands, 'the weary, betlraggled, world-woi-n Old Year 
heaved a heavy sigh, and appeared to be taking no very pleasant 
retrospect of her past existence. 

While she tlius awaited the midnight knell, that was to summon her 
to the innumerable sisterhood of departed Years, there came a young" 
maiden treading lightsomely on tip-toe along the street, from the di- 
rection of tlie Kailroad Depot. She was evidentlv a stranger, and 
perhaps had come to town by the evening train of cars. There was 
a smiling clieerfulness iu this fair maiden's face, wliich bespoke her 
fully confident of a kind reception from the multitude of people, 
with whom she was soon to form acquaintance. Her dress was rather 
too airy for the season, and was bedizened with fluttering ribbons and 
other vanities, which were likely soon to be rent away by the fierce 
storms, or to fade in the hot sunshine, amid which she was to pursue 
her changeful course. But still she was a wonderfully pleasant look- 
ing figure, and had so much promise and such au indescribable hope- 
fulness in her a'spect, that hardly anybody could meet her without 
anticipating some very desirable thing — the consummation of somd long" 
sought good — from her kind oflices. A few dismal characters there 
may be, here and there about the world, who have so ofteii been 
trifled with by young maidens as promising as she, that they have now 
ceased to pin any faith upon the skirts of the New Year. But, for my 
own part, I iiave great faith in her; and should I live to see fifty more 
such, still from each of those successive sisters, I shall reckon upon re- 
ceiving something that will be worth living for. 

The New Year — for this young maiden was no less a personage — 
cai-ried all her goods and chattels in a basket of no great size or 
weight, which hung upon her arm. She greeted the disconsolate Old 
Year with great atiection, and sat down beside her on the steps of the 
City Hall, waiting for the signal to begin her rambles through the 
world. The two were own sisters, being both grand daughters of 
Time; and though one looked so much older than the other, it was 
rather owing to hardships and trouble than to age, since there was but 
a twelvemonth's difference l)etween them. 

"Well, my dear dster," said the New Year, after the first salutations, 
"you look almost tired to death. What have you been about during 
your sojourn in this pait of Infinite Space?'' 

"Oh, I have it all recorded here in my Book of Chi'onicles," answered 
the Old Year, in a lieavy tone. "There is nothing that would amuse 
you; and you will soon get sulRcient Icnowledge of such mattei'S from 
your own personal experience. It is but tiresome reading." 

Nevertheless, she turned over the leaves of the folio, and glanced 
at them by the light of the moon, feeling an irresistible spell of interest 
in her own biography, although its incidents were remembered with, 
out pleasure. The volume, thougli she termed it her Book of Chroni- 
cles, seemed to be neither more nor less than the SALEM GAZETTE 
for 1838; in the accuracy of which journal this sagacious Old Year 
bad so much confidence, that she deemed it needless to record her 
doings with her own pen. 



^'My whole history," continued slie, ''is here set clown by a very able 
and faithful secretary of mine; and, now that I have no further use 
for his services, I would recommend you to employ him on the same 
footing V^ 

"What are his politics?'' inquired the New Year, with an air of 
^rave deliberation, and a dubious expression of connteiiance, — "Not 
Whio-, I trust.-' 

"Whig — to the back bone," answered her elder sister ; "and whatever 
your own opinions may be, his are not very likely to change. But, at 
any rate, his narratives of fact may prettysafely" be depended on, and 
you }nay gain from this volume a compendious summary of my efforts 
and achieA'ements, my good and evil fortune; and, in some degree, of 
my thoughts and feelings throughout my earthly career. Meu will not 
look back to me as a very distinguished Year, in any part of the 
world." 

"What have you been doing in the political way:'" asked the New 
Y'ear. 

'^Why ray course here in the United States," said the Old Year — 
"though perhaps I ought to blush at the confession — ^my political 
course, I must acknowTedge, has been rather vascillatory, "sometimes 
inclining towards the Whigs — then causing the Adroinisti-ation party 
to shout for triumi)h — and now again uplifting what seemed the al- 
most prostrate banner of the Opposition ; so that historians will hard- 
ly know what to make of me, in this respect. But the Loco Focos — 

"1 do not like these party nicknames," interruped her sister, who 
seemed remarkably touchy about some points "Perhaps Ave shall part in 
better humor, if we avoid any political discussion." 

"With all my heart," replied the Old Year, who had already been 
tormented half to death with squabbles of this kind. "I care not if the 
names of Whig or Tory, with their interminable brawls about Banks 
and the Sub Treasury, Abolition, Texas, the Florida War, and a mil- 
lion of other topics— which you will learn soon enough for your own 
comfort — I care not, I say, if no whispers of these matters ever 
reaches my ears again. Yet they have occupied so large a share of my 
attention, that I scarcely know what else to tell you. There has in- 
deed been a curious sort of war on the Canada border, where blood 
has streamed in the names of Liberty and Patriotism; but it must re- 
main for some future, perhaps far distant, Year, to tell whether or no 
those holy names have been rightfully invoked. — Nothing so much de- 
presses me, in my view of mortal affairs, as to see high energies 
wasted and human life and happiness thrown away, for ends that ap- 
pear-oftentimes unwise; and still oftener remain unaccomplished. 
But the wisest ])eople and the best keep a steadfast faith that the pro- 
gress of Maiddndis onward and upward, and that the toil and anguisji 
of the path serve to wear away the imperfections of the immortal 
Pilgrim, and will be felt no more, when they have done their office." 

"Perhaps," cried the hopeful New Year — "Perhaps I shall see that 
happy day!'' 

"I doubt whether it be so close at hand.'' answered th'^ Old Year 
gravely smiling. "You will soon grow weary of looking for that 
blessed consummation, and will turn for amusement (as has frequent- 
ly been my own practice) to the affairs of some sober little city, like 
this of Salem. Here wc sit, on the steps of the new City Hall, which 
has been completed under my administration, and it would mak(^ you 
laugh to see how the game of i)olilics, of wdiich the Capitol at Wash- 
ington is the great chess-board, is here ])layed in miniature. Burning 
Ambition linds its fuel Iku'c ; hen; Patriotism si)eaks ijoldly in the 
people's behalf, and virtuous Economy deniantis retrenchment in the 



emolmnents of a lamp-lighter ; here the Aldermen range their senato- 
rial dignity ai-ound the Mayor's chair of state, and the Common Coun- 
cil feel that they have liberty in charge. In short, human weakness 
and strength, passion and policy, Man's tendencies, his aims and 
modes of pursuing them, his individual character, and his character in 
the mass, may be studied almost as well here as on the theatre of na- 
tions; and with this great advantage, that, be the lesson ever so dis- 
astrous, its Lilhputian scope still makes the beholder smile." 

''Have you done much for the improvement of the City?" asked the 
New Year. "Judging from what little I have seen, it appears to be 
ancient and time-worn," 

"I have opened the Rail-Road," said the elder year, '-and half a doz«=n 
times a day, you will hear the bell (which once summoned the Monks 
of a Spanish Convent to their devotions,) announcing the arrival or 
departure of the cars. Old Salem now wears a much livelier expres- 
sion than when I first beheld her. — Strangers rumble down from Bos- 
ton by hundreds at a time. — New faces throng in Essex street. Rail- 
road hacks and omnibuses rattle over the pavements. There is a per- 
ceptible increase of oyster-shops, and other establishments for the 
accommodation of a transitory diurnal multitude. But a more impor- 
tant change awaits the venerable town. An immense accumulation of 
musty yjrejudices will be carried off by the free circulation of society. 
A peculiarit}^ of character, of which the inhabitants themselves are 
hardly sensible, will be rubbed down and worn away by the attrition 
of foreign substances. Much of the result will be good; there will 
likewise be a few things not so good. Whether for better or worse, 
there will be a probable dimunition of the moral influence of wealth, 
and the sway of an aristocratic class, which, from an era far beyond 
my memory, has held firmer dominion here than in any other New 
England town." 

The Old Year, having talked awa)^ nearly all her little remaining 
breath, now closed her Book of Chronicles, and was about to take 
her departure. But her sister detained her a while longer, by in- 
niring the contents of the huge band-box, which she was so painfully 
lugging along with her. 

"These are merely a few trifles," replied the Old Year, which I have 
picked up in my rambles, and am going to deposit, in the receptacle 
of things past and forgotten. We sisterhood of Years never carry 
anything really valuable out of the world with us. Here are patterns 
of most of the fashions which I brought into vogue, and which have 
alread}^ lived out their allotted term. You will supply their place 
with others equally ephemeral. Here, put up in little China pots, like 
rouge, is a considerable lot of beautiful women's bloom, which the 
disconsolate fair ones owe me a bitter grudge for stealing. I have 
likewise a quantitj^of men's dark hair, instead of which, I have left 
grey locks, or none at all. The tears of widows and other afilicted 
mortals, who have received comfort during the last twelve months, are 
preserved in some dozens of essence bottles, well corked and sealed. 
I have several bundles of love-letters, eloquently bi'eathing an eternity 
of burning passion, which grew cold and perished, almost befoi'e the 
ink was dry. Moreover, here is an assortment of many thousand bro- 
ken promises, and other broken ware, all very light and packed into 
little space. The heaviest articles in my possession are a large parcel 
of disappointed hopes, which, a little while ago, were buoyant enough 
to have inflated Mr. Lauriat's balloon." 

"I have a tine lot of hopes here in my basket," remarked the New- 
Year. "They are a sweet-smelling flower — a species of rose." 

"They soon lose their perfume,' replied the sombre Old Year. 'What 



else have you brought to insure a welcome from the diBcoutcutecl race 
of mortals?" 

"Wh)', to say the truth, little or nothing else," said her sister, with a 
smile — "save a few new Annuals and Almanacks, and some New 
Year's gifts for the children. But 1 heartily wish well to poor mor- 
tals, and mean to do all I can for their improvement and happiness." 

•'It is a good resolution, "rejoined the Old Year; 'and, by the way, I 
have a plentiful assortment of good resolutions, Avhich have now 
grown so stale and musty, that I am ashamed to carry them any fur- 
ther. Only for fear that the City authorities would send constable 
Mansfield, with a warrant after me, I should toss them into the street 
at once. Many other matters go to make up the contents of my band- 
box ; but the whole lot would not fetch a single bid, even at an auc- 
tion of worn out furniture ; and as they are Avorth nothing either to 
you or any body else, I need not trouble you with a longer catalogue." 

"And must 1 also pickup such worthless luggage in my travels?" 
asked the New Yeai".] 

"Most certainly — and well if you have no heavier load to bear," re- 
plied the other. "And now, my dear sister, I must bid you farewell, 
'earnestly adAising and exhorting you to expect no gratitude nor good 
will from this peevish, unreasonable, inconsiderate, ill-tending and 
worse-behaving world. However warmly its inhabitants may seem 
to welcome you, yet, do what you may, and lavish on thern Avhat 
means of happiness you please, "they will still be complaining, — still 
craving what it is not in your power to give, — still looking forward 
to some other Year for the accomplishment of projects which ought 
never to have been formed, and which if successful, would only pro- 
vide new occasions of discontent. If these ridiculous people ever see 
anvthing tolerable in you, it will be after you are gone forever." 

"But I," cried the fresh-hearted New Year, "I shall try to leave men 
wiser than I find them. I will oflfer them freely whatever good gifts 
ProAidence permits me to distribute, and Avill tell them to be thankful 
for Avhat they have, and humblv hopeful for more; and surely, if they 
are not absolute fools, they Avill condescend to be happy, and will al- 
low me to be a happy Year. For my happiness must depend on 
them." 

"Alas for von, then, mv poor sister!" said the Old Year, sighing, as 
she uplifted'her burthen". "AVe grand children, of Time are born to 
trouble. Happiness, they sav, dwells in the mansions of Eternity; 
but we can only lead mortals thither, step by step, with reluctant mur- 
murings, and ourselves must perish on the threshold. But hark! My 
i'tisk IS rlonG " 

The clock in the tall steeple of Dr. Emerson's church struck twelve ; 
there Avas a response from Dr. Flint's in the opposite quarter of the 
Citv; andAvhilethe strokes av ere yet dropping into the air, the Old 
Year either flitted or faded away— and not the Avisdom and might of 
Angels, to say nothing of the remorseful yearnings of the millions 
Avho had used her ill, could have prevailed Avith that departed Year to 
return one step. But she, in the company of time and all her kindred, 
must hereafter hold a reckoning Avith Mankind. So shall it be, like- 
Avise, with the maidenly Ncav Year, Avho, as the clock ceased to strike, 
arose from the steps of the (^ity Hall, and set out rather timorously on 
her earthly course. . , ^ 

"A happy New Year!" cried a Avatchman, eyeing her tigure very 
questionably, but without the least suspicion that he Avas addressing 
the NcAV Year in person. , , ,, , , 

"Thank you kindly!" said the New Year; and she gave the watch- 
man one of the roses'of hope from her basket. ';May this flower keep 
a sweet smell, long after I have bidden you good bye. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



8 




001 944 792 3 t 



Then she stept on more briskly through the sileutstreets; and siioh 
as were awake at tlie moment, heard lier foot-fall, and said — ''The 
Nfew Year is come !" Wherever there was a knot of midnight roisterers, 
they quaffed her health. She sighed, however, to perceive that the air 
was tainted — as the atmosphere of this world must continually be — 
with the d\ing breaths of mortals who had lingered just long enough 
for her to bury them, — But there were millions left ahve, to rejoice at 
her cominug; and so she pursued her way with confidence, strewing 
emblematic flowers on the door-step of almost every dwelling, which 
some persons will gather up and wear in their bosoms, and others will 
trample under foot. The Carrier Boy can only say further, that, early 
this morning she filled his basket with New Year's Addresses, assuring 
him that the whole City, with our new Mayor, and the Aldermen and 
Common Council at its head, would make a general rush to secure 
copies. Kind Patrons, will not you redeem the pledge of the NEW 
YEAE? 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



001 944 792 3 



